Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-17

Ned Titus, who drove his own horse In
his own truck, was seated one summers
evening, at the well supplied supper table,
in the kitchen of his snug, new little
house. Opposite to him was his Polly, as
pretty, comfortable little wife as ever
made home happy for an honest toiler.
He had come in tired and little dis
posed to find fault with his lot
"I'm all right when I'm home with you,
Polly" he was saying, but when Pm
Jogging along, dirty and tired on the old
truck, and see men that | know cheat
their friends and the public, rolling in
carriages and wealth. 1 do get ratified
some times"
"But they haven't the comfort of an
easy conscience, Ned" replied Polly,
brightly.
YOU'RE always right, my dear, yet
that three hundred due on the house, that
can be called for any time will worry me,
and when think if something should lay
me up, or take me off, what would become
of you, /"
A shadow darkened the door.
Ned looked up.
Hello, Irish !"
There was no mistaking the nationality
oil tne lace uDdU lOOkeu III UPON lutIll. lie
poor, wan, shrinking creature turned as if
to GO
"Stop |" said Polly, in her clear, kind
voice. Ned, how can you be so rough.
Suppose, now, you were like that ~
"What me a Micky9 Come, Polly,
that is too tough"
The stranger stood immovable, his
sunken eyes telling of nothing but utter
misery.
Are you hungry, Pat?" asked Ned, in
more gentle tones.
"Deed thin, an Oh dun no, SIR" came
in Loarse whisper
Don't know if you're hungry Why,
you're the ghost of a famine What do
you want, If it amt some grub to fill up
that hollow carcass, eh ?'
"Sure, sir, Oi dun no. Oh amt hungry.
Ohm starvin'. 1t wor hard "Trip over
tn say, an tn vittles wor bad, an scant
ct thot. OF q0Or hungary thin, sur, bud
Oh had tn good luck fur t. git sthrong
lump ov tn ship.favor, an whin tn favor
wor on tn hungher wor aft, an LEFT me so
wake an sick OF cuddn't ate. an faith"
with sickly smile, II behave don't full
tn fill ov me clothin' es did for'by."
Come in, you Shoe-String of misery w
ordered Ned, and as the freshman slowly
lmped to a corner Polly met him with a
stool and great bowl OF the glorious
stew. Best of all was the kindly welcome
of her pretty face and the CLINT Of a tear
in her bright eyes that told of the woman
ly sympathy.
Down went the old hat one great. bony,
transparent hand grasped the keeping
bowl, the other made the sign of the
cross on face and breast
God forever bless you, mem, an you,
sur" the trembling lips uttered May
tn blissid Vargin ever smile on you an
yours, an yer home an childer, an may
We niver know want ner Sickness ner sor-
row, ner--"
ooh come !" That's grace enough for
one meal, Paddy sit down and pile in the
chuck. You'll pray better on full stom-
ach.' Ned was tender hearted, and
ashamed of it. The man after once tast-
ing found that he lUdS hungry and ate
with ravenous eagerness.
When done, he stood up. ITS saved
me loif, mem an sur, thot We hev ; cud
Oh do nothin' fur We, t fetch er carry, t
show me grathidude. O'm willin', Oim
sthrong, now, an Oh wudn't be havin' ye
think me name begger."
Garry y said Ned. "Why you can't
carry what little meat there is on your
rafting bones. Do you want any more
grub No Sure Well then, | know
where you come from what's your name
Tim an it phase ye, min an sur"
Tim what ?''
Tim Ryan, min an sur"
do you want work ?"
Deed an Oh do, sur. er OF did. But
wud tn work. want me Sure Oh hunth-
ed tn worrk,hup an down, whoits Oh he'd
tn health an strength t. look afther ct,
till Oi wor thot sick an wake thot Oi
cudn't hould tn head ov me, an thin as
passed me cud'nt see tn stharvashun
death es wor desthroyin' me-"
IF l give, you work, williyou be honest
and do the best you can ?'
"Oi wull, sur Oh wull OIL work.
for yez, b. day an b. noight. Only thry
me, sur AK him t thry me, min, FIR tn
pure love o. God, don'r thurn me frum tn
only broight spot Owe found in this Ian
tibet heerd gouldin, bud es grave fur
me-"
Pollys eyes had settled the matter. Ned
wanted helper, but could not afford to
pay for such as he would employ,
Il can't pay you much wages
"Oi don't want ony, sur, divil q ha
penny. .Gi me tn bite, an sup thot'l
kape loife in me, an mex me strenth t
do yer biddin'. Ol'il lie on tn fiure, ony
where an wild kond wourd from tn
lady. DIN be .contint an happy es the
Lord Liftinint av Oirland. Thry me, sur
only thry me !"
"Can you take care of horses ?"
9TH Dist o. care, sur, sure I've bin vic
tn crathers sense Oh wor bit gosoon. O
dhrove Lanty McGuires' kickin' thafe o
mare in a harse, afore Oh wor tin yea
Guild, an cts niyer bye bud me cud de
thot ell the whole o. County Down"
You'll have to sleep in the stable for
while,' said Ned.
''Oh, Ned The back room up stairs il
empty" commenced his wife.
But Ned answered firmly.
He'll have to do it, Polly He's JUS
over the fever, as he tells you. He's no
over clean and we know. nothing about
him. The stable is clean, there's plent.
of new straw, the waather's warm, anC
he'll think he's quartered at the Fiftl
avenue"
Twill the stable suit you ?" he asket
Ryan.
"Illigint, illigint, sur. TIL masther''
right mem. It's not for tn loikes o. me to b
sett'n' up t'slape nigh ladies an gentle
min. A bed o. sthraw ill be fedders o
down t me bones, an may tn blessns O
all tn saints an"
But the extended prayer was cut short
and soon the poor tired body was OF
springy straw, and that night Ned ant
his wife slept the sleep of the righteous.
A week after this Ned and his recon
structed helper were stopped on the stree
by young man who asked il they coul'
move some trunks from a house near b.